Djokovic sent crashing out of French Open
Novak Djokovic will turn his attentions to Wimbledon
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Saturday, 30, May 2009 09:06
World number three Novak Djokovic is out of the French Open after losing 6-4 6-4 6-4 to Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Djokovic had been one of the star performers of the clay court season as he won in Belgrade and reached the final in Monte Carlo and Rome, but cut a bemused figure today and was nowhere near his best.
The Serb had actually started well and taken a 4-1 lead in the first set, but he then completely lost his way and Kohlschreiber lifted his game and took the next five games to take the opening set.
It was a similar story in the second set as Djokovic took the first game, but then lost five games in a row on his way to losing the set.
The third set was delicately poised at 4-4 with Djokovic serving, but he was broken as Kohlschreiber came up with a stunning backhand winner and then served out for the match.
"I was disappointed with the way I was performing," said Djokovic. "I couldn't find the rhythm throughout the whole match. I was trying to find the comfort zone but my legs were really stuck.
"I was trying not to be frustrated with my unforced errors and trying to stay positive and wait for my chances, but he didn't give me any.
"He played tactically really smart and I had no solutions. But, as I said before, the opening rounds are very dangerous because the players are lower ranked and they have nothing to lose."
Elsewhere, Roger Federer was forced to come from a set down to claim a 4-6 6-1 6-4 6-4 win over Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu.
Andy Roddick continued his fine form at Roland Garros as he reached the fourth round with a 6-1 6-4 6-3 victory over Marc Gicquel.
Roddick will now play home favourite Gael Monfils in the next round after he won 6-2 4-6 6-3 6-1 against Jurgen Melzer.
Fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro breezed into the fourth round with a comfortable 6-4 7-5 6-4 win over Igor Andreev.